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TEMPLE OF THE DAY

Shri Dholaka Teerth

Acharya Vidyasagar's Book "Silent Earth" Presented To President

New
Delhi, The first copy of "The Silent Earth",
English translation of the Hindi epic poem "Mukamati"
authored by Jain saint poet Acharya Vidyasagar
was presented to President Pratibha Devisingh
Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The epic
presents the Jain religious philosophy and
spirituality by making the soil (Mati) the
subject matter as it is from the base clay that
the potter artistically crafts the sacred
pitchers worthy of worship. He kneads the soil,
crushes it, removes impurities and provides the
requisite shape at his wheel and then bakes it
in a furnace. The process is used as a metaphor
for the journey of the soul to attain liberation
from the bondage of 'Karma" and advance towards
a stage of perfect purification.

During the course of the 488-page work,
references are made to modern scientific trends,
about the destructive power of the atom and
faith as the saviour. "Over and above, the
machine is thundering, beneath it, the holy
incantation is being sung, the one is a killer,
the other is a saviour..." goes the poem. A
reference to terrorism too comes up. "Till
terrorism is alive, This earth can't take the
breath of peace," says the Acharya. At another
place, the author says about elevation of the
soul. "Pay homage to humility which is the
mother of eminence..." Among the recurring
symbols used in the epic are Mukamati, the
heroine as a symbol of the recurrence the life
cycle, the potter-artisan, a symbol of the "Mahamuni",
the great ascetic who moulds the feelings,
thoughts and conduct of a votary householder
(the hero) to advance on the true path of
spiritualism. The book is published by Bharatiya
Jnanpith,and priced at Rs 350, has been translated into
English by Mr Lal Chandra Jain (Ex Lecturer,
Varni Jain Inter Collage, 39/625 Aalok Bhawan,
Chhatrasalpura, Lalitpur-284 403 Uttarpradesh
Contact – 05176 272640). Courtesy: Nitin Kumar
Jain, Singhai Market, New galla Mandi, Khargapur
472 115 District- Tikamgarh (MP)